€9m tourism campaign targets 20 million visitors

A €9 MILLION tourism marketing blitz has been launched aimed at reaching 20 million potential visitors from around the globe.

Tourism Ireland’s funding for the campaigns is supported by revenues from the air travel tax, while matching funding is being provided by partner companies including Ryanair, Aer Lingus and Aer Arann, overseas airlines including Emirates, Etihad, US Airways, online travel agents, Irish Ferries, Stena and other ferry companies.

Tourism minister Leo Varadkar announced a decision to retain the air travel tax earlier this year until agreement is reached with airlines on new routes and passenger numbers. In the meantime, the Government agreed to allocate a portion of the travel tax revenue to tourism marketing initiatives.